Container cluster



June 2, 1970 J..voN GAL 3,515,212

CONTAINER CLUSTER Filed March 27, 1968 .L ml

3 INV ENTCJ? 1 Jam C 1/0 644 BY WM) Army/v 5 United States Patent O P3,515,272 CONTAINER CLUSTER John C. von Gal, P.O. Box 1241, Montgomery,Ala. 36102 Filed Mar. 27, 1968, Ser. No. 716,671 Int. Cl. B65d 71/00U.S. (:1. 20665 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates to container packages and is more particularly concerned with acontainer cluster in which are a plurality of containers, such as cans,which are temporarily joined together for convenient transportation.

In the past, cans of food and drink have usually been packaged incorrugated boxes, approximately 24, per case. Furthermore, when the cansare displayed for sale, it is usually necessary to open the case andindividually remove the cans therefrom. The packing of cans incorrugated boxes is expensive and the automatic handling of cans andcases involves quite complicated machinery.

Recently, a trend has developed to pack cans in what is termed papertrays. The packing of cans in such trays, while being less expensivethan the packing of cans in a carton, nevertheless, is relativelyexpensive when compared to the present invention.

When it was desired to join the cases into units, for convenienthandling, the cans were packaged as sixpack cartons or eight-packcartons. Various types of cartons have been employed for receiving thecans. The recent trend has been the wrap around cartons which arepackaged four to a case. While automatic machinery has been employed forenclosing the six containers in the wrap around cartons and fordepositing these cartons in a corrugated box, nevertheless, this isquite expensive and time-consuming, even if performed at a rapid rate.

The six-pack cartons or eight-pack cartons have other disadvantages inthat when stored by the customer in a refrigerator, the carton occupiesthe same amount of space, regardless of whether it contains the fullnumber of cans or a lesser number of cans. Another disadvantage of thewrap around six-pack carton or the eight-pack carton is that the firstone or two cans removed therefrom are quite diflicult to remove.

In establishments, such as grocery stores and the like, which unpack thecases and, in some instances, unpack the cartons, disposing of the wastepaper becomes quite a problem and is expensive and time-consuming.

Briefly described, the present invention, which obviated or reduced to aminimum the problems described above, includes a cluster of containersarranged in juxtaposition with their centers along longitudinal andtransverse paral lel rows. The abutting peripheries or perimeters, asthe 3,515,272 Patented June 2, 1970 case may be (collectively referredto hereinafter as peripheries) of the ends of the cans in the lowerplane, are secured together by bridging members, i.e., solder, quickdryglue, adhesive, or the like. These bridging members are between bothtransversely and longitudinally abutting portions and, therefore, aredisposed in the same transverse plane and in the lines of centerstransversely and longitudinally. More specifically, the outer cans,along the perimeter of the cluster, are provided with either two orthree shared bridging members arranged circumferentially apart. Ofcourse, each can or container shares with an adjacent can or container abridging member. These bridging members must be readily severable whenone can is pivoted with respect to its joined can.

In addition to the bridging members, which secure, for example, thebottom ends of all cans or containers together, the cluster of such cansor containers receives, around the perimeter defined thereby, a strap.This strap is preferably a fiberglass reinforced tape which firmlyholdsthe cans from inadvertently pivoting outwardly about a bridgingmember.

Ususally 24 cans are provided for each main cluster of cans. These cans,however, are sub-divided within the main cluster into minor clusterswhich constitute the sixpack or eight-pack. For accomplishing this, eachgroup of six (or eight as the case may be) of the cans or containersreceives over the ends, opposite the secured or joined end of the cans,a shrink film top or cap. Each shrink film top includes a top panel orsheet extending over the ends of the containers in the unit and adepending perimetral Wall which extends, as a strap, around the upperend portion of the unit.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acontainer cluster which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable instructure, and which can be readily and easily selectively disassembledinto smaller units, for example, six-packs, and then further separatedinto individual containers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a containercluster which will render the packaging of a number of containers lessexpensive and the resulting cluster more durable.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means by which aplurality of containers may be transported as a unit without thenecessity of wrapping the containers or inserting them into cases andwith a minimum of material which must be discarded when the containersare separated from the cluster.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a containercluster which, when in a condition for shipping, is quite firmly heldtogether but which, when ready for disassembly, may be readily andeasily disassembled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a containercluster which lends itself readily to being handled by automaticmachines.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of referencedesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container cluster constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plane view of the container cluster illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the container cluster illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of two six-pack units of the containercluster illustrated in FIG. 1, these sixpack units being separated fromeach other; and

FIG. is a perspective view of the six-pack unit after having beenseparated from the container cluster of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment chosen for the purpose ofillustrating the present invention, it being understood that, in itsbroader aspects, the present invention is not limited to the exactdetails herein depicted, I have disclosed a container cluster with 24individual containers therein. This container cluster, however, mayconsist of any number of containers joined together and retainedtogether in the fashion hereinafter to be described.

In the drawings, so that the containers may be more readily identified,I have designated the corner containers by the numeral 10, the otherperimeter containers by the numeral 11, and the interior containers bythe numeral 12. In more detail, the container cluster of FIG. 1 includesa plurality of containers 10, 11 and 12 arranged in six spacedtransverse parallel rows and four spaced longitudinal parallel rowswhich intersect the transverse rows. The arrangement is such that thecenters of the containers 11 and 12 are all within prescribed transverserows and also within prescribed longitudinal rows.

By such an arrangement, as described above, the abutting peripheries ofeach pair of adjacent cans lie in a longitudinal line containing thecenters of the cans or in a transverse line containing the centers ofthe cans. Each of the cans or containers 10, 11 or 12 in the presentembodiment is identical, being the usual right cylindrical metalclosure; however, other shaped containers, both metal and non-metal, canbe joined in the manner hereinafter described. Thus, it is seen thateach of the cans or containers 10 has a bottom end 13, a top end 14 anda vertical cylindrical side wall or body 15. Each can 11, in identicalfashion, is provided with a bottom end 16, a top end 17, and a body 18while container 12 has a bottom end 19, a top end 20, and a body 21. Thebottoms 13, 16 and 19 are arranged in a common transverse plane and thetops 14, 17 and 20 are arranged in a common transverse plane spaced fromand parallel to the plane of the bottoms.

It is therefore seen that the containers 10, 11 and 12 of the presentinvention are arranged in much the same manner as they would be arrangedif they were packed in a conventional case formed of corrugatedfiberboard.

According to the present invention, bridging members 22 are provided forconnecting the abutting or adjacent portions of the peripheries of allbottom ends 13, 16 and 19, or more particularly the rims of such endstogether.

In FIG. 2 it is seen that each of the inner portions of each end 13 ofthe corner containers 10 is provided with two shared bridging members 22and, in like fashion, each end 16 is provided with three shared bridgingmembers 22 and each end 15' is provided with four shared bridgingmembers 22. Each bridging member 22 is a drop of solder, a drop of quickdrying glue, or the like.

The bridging members 22 are provided for joining the rims of the bottoms13, 16 and 19, wherever one rim of a bottom end abuts another.Therefore, the bridging members are also arranged in parallel transverserows and in longitudinal transverse rows which intersect each other.

By pivoting one row of containers 10, 11 and/or 12, With respect to itsadjacent row, as for example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the bridgingmembers 22 between those two rows are readily severed. Therefore, it iscontemplated that the bridging members 22 should not be used as a solemeans for holding the cans together. Nor should the bridging members 22be used for securing both top and bottom rims of adjacent cans togethersince this would render it difficult to separate the two by pivotalmovement outwardly, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Therefore, it isimportant, when a firm cluster is needed for transportation withoutdanger of disassembly, in addition to the individual securing means,i.e., the bridging members 22, a quick release means for securing theother ends 14, 17 and 20 together be employed. This quick release meansenables the simultaneous release of the top portions of all cans orcontainers 10, 11 and 12 from each other. For this purpose in thepreferred embodiment, I employ two different quick release means, to bedescribed hereinafter.

The first quick release means serves the additional function ofsub-dividing the cluster of containers into the conventional six-pack oreight-pack, as desired. This first quick release means includes a shrinkfilm plastic cap or top for each six (or eight) containers. The cap ortop is put on in a loose condition over the upper end portions of thecontainers 10, 11 and/or 12 and is shrunk so as to encompass snugly theend portions of the containers.

In more detail, each cap or top includes a rectangular thin film sheetor panel 24 extending over the top ends 14, 17, and 20 and a downwardlyprojecting flange 25 depending from the edges of film 24. Since flange25 is continuous, it encompasses the upper end portions of the cans orcontainers 10, 11, and 12, holding them together; however, when flange25 is ruptured or severed, it will simultaneously release all itscontainers. In other Words, the flange 25 acts as a strap around thecontainers.

Spaced finger holes 26 in the film 24 provide a convenient means forcarrying the sub-divided or minor unit of containers, shown in FIG. 5.

The major unit of containers is provided with a second quick releasemeans, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. This quick release means is afiberglass reinforced tape 27 which extends over the outer portions offlanges 25 around the upper end portions of all containers 10, 11 and12. The tape 27 may be used to replace the tops or caps or vice-versa;however, in the preferred embodiment, both means are used.

The container cluster thus described requires no case for shipping, andcan be easily carried by one of the corner containers 10.

The individual bridging member 22 enables the containers to be handledas a cluster using automatic stacking machines and the like.

When it is desired to disassemble into the six-pack units, the strap 27is severed and the cluster bent along its longitudinal or transversecenter axis, i.e., along either of the axes at which the flanges 25abut. This separates the cluster into two halves. Thereafter, the halvesare bent away from each other as illustrated in FIG. 4, therebyproviding four six-pack units as indicated in FIG. 5.

The individual cans or containers 10, 11, and 12 can then be madeavailable by rupturing and discarding the cap or top, i.e., the film 24and flange 25. By bending along longitudinal axes or along transverseaxes, the individual cans or containers may be separated from the unit.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations maybe made in the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating thepresent invention without departing from the scope of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container cluster comprising:

(a) a plurality of containers disposed in juxtaposition in longitudinaland transverse rows with respect to each other;

(b) individually rupturable bridging members for joining the adjacentportions of said first ends of said containers; and

(c) rupturable securing means for securing the end portions of saidcontainers adjacent the second ends together for simultaneous release ofall of the end portions adjacent the second ends when said securingmeans is ruptured, said securing means includes a first securing meanssurrounding all of said containers adjacent said second end only and aplurality of second securing means surrounding selected groups of saidcontainers adjacent said second end References Cited only forsubdividing said containers into units. UN T T PAT 2. The clusterdefined in claim 1 wherein said first se- 1 ED S ATES ENT'S curing meansincludes a panel extending over the second a z f g e end of the containrs, encircled b sa'd second securin es y l g 5 2,819,594 1/1958 Lorie206-65 X 3. The cluster defined in claim 1 wherein said con- JOSEPH R.LECLAIR, Primary Examiner tainers are metal and said bridging membersare drops of J. M. CASKIE Assistant Examiner solder on the rims of saidcontainers.

4. The cluster defined in claim 1 wherein said bridging l0 U 1, membersare each glue. 20656.

